Photo : YONHAP News
The prosecution’s investigation review committee has recommended indictment of a Korean American pastor for gifting a luxury bag and other expensive items to first lady Kim Keon Hee.
The independent panel passed the indictment recommendation for Choi Jae-young on charges of violation of the anti-graft law in an eight to seven decision after deliberation that lasted more than eight hours from 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Earlier this month, the review committee presented the opposite opinion, recommending non-indictment of the first lady for accepting a luxury bag from Choi.
The panel recommended non-indictment of Choi on three other charges of defamation, trespassing and obstruction of official duties.
The pastor gifted a Dior handbag worth three million won and other expensive gifts to Kim between June and September 2022 four months after President Yoon Suk Yeol took office.
The panel’s conflicting decisions on the first lady and Choi are expected to put the prosecution on the spot, which was planning to conclude the case with non-indictment for both of them.